Thermobath cabinet



April 1940- c. J. FENTON THERMOBATH CABINET Filed May 1, 1939 Chester Hantm Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES THERMOBATH CABINET Chester J. Fenton, Milbury, Ohio Application May 1, 1939," Serial No. 271,062 i 1 Claim.

This invention relates to readily adaptable and collapsible chambers and equipment structures. This invention has utility when incorporated in therapeutic treatment and vapor bath admin- 5 istration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in an assembled vapor bath cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the cabinet from front to rear of Fig. 1, with parts broken away or removed;

Fig. 3 is a view on a reduced scale of the dis tended or spread side-wall structure for the cabinet of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IVIV, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, showing the interlock for assembling the free ends of the side wall or strip of Fig. 3 into an open top closure;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the approach of the tongue end of the roll for entrance into the groove or channel;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the cape for the top closure in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the side Wall of Fig. 3 in collapsed or rolled out-of-use shape;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, with parts broken away, of the vaporizer or heater adapted to be placed beneath the station or seat in the cabinet; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic outline in plan on a reduced scale showing the side wall structure of the cabinet as readily flexible into convenient shielding position for the occupant.

Legs I may support seat 2, from which rises back 3 in providing a chair seat or station, upon which may be placed a cushion or towel 4 for the occupant or one taking the treatment, which one may have feet rest on towel 5, thereby to have the feet clear of floor 6. Conductor lines I in conduit 8 may extend to fitting 9, carrying heater as electrical resistance ID with reflector bowl II. This reflector type heater as positioned herein may have legs l2 rising from return bend feet I3 to have U-portions l4 snap in embracing position as to rim l5 of the bowl I I. From these U-portions I4 of the legs l2, extensions l6 may extend to provide rest I! in which baffle I 8 may be sus: tained and serve as a receptacle for volatile medium I9 in the taking of a treatment or administering a bath hereunder.

In the absence of vaporizable medium, there may be just temperature control for a so-called Turkish or heat bath in stimulating pore action from temperature. The treatment may go further in the character of volatilizable matter introduced into the receptacle l9, whetherlsuch'bepine oil, balsam, or for sulphur or other fumes. to be effective in treatment desired.

Accordingly, it is in order this adaptable structure be available as a closed chamber for the bath treatment. Hereunder, roll 2!! may be dis-, tended into strip 2|, to the end that notch, 22 may be astride the conduit, 8. .This strip, stock say of .20 sulphite paper, rnois-tu're' iro'o'fed, may be colored and embossed. However, this strip of stock, which in practice may run say 36 inches high and 8 feet long, has rigidity transversely of its extent so that it is substantial in holding itself up as edge 23 is a support on the floor 6 and opposite edge 24 may leave open top. Slightly narrowed terminus 25 may as one free end be thrust into pocket or groove 26 past trim 21, say as return bend metal. In practice, this slot 26 may be approximately 4 inches deep to seam 28. There is thus an effective frictional interlock in completing side wall structure surrounding the station 2 for the one to take the treatment.

The one taking the treatment may, as disrobed to the extent desired, don cape 29. This in practice is a thin, readily flexible, waterproof stock or fabric, desirably of a character that as against the flesh will not tend to promote burn when temperature rises. This cape 29 has opening 30, through which neck 3| of the one undergoing treatment may be thrust with head 32 thereabove. From this neck portion 30 of the opening, closure means 33 may be effective in assembling the cape on the one to take the treatment. In the positioning the patient or one taking the treatment in this cabinet, it is convenientto have this closure extend from the back of the neck at the position for the back 3 of the chair to be adjacent the side wall structure of this bath cabinet.

Loading means 34 adjacent the edges of this cape 29 may be allowed to hang over the outside of this cylindrical side wall bath cabinet and therewith effect a closure of such efficiency that as the temperature rise has been effective, a lifting action on the cape may be effective to carry the side wall unit upwardly therewith.

In the practice hereunder, the one undergoing treatment may have the bath for the duration interval sought, say five to twenty or forty minutes as may be suitable for the treatment. In practice, twenty-five to thirty-five minutes is appropriate. The notch 22, in the positioning of the chair as shown in Fig. 2, is effective for locating the conduit away from the foot portion of the one undergoing treatment and is a safeguard hereunder.

PATENT OFFICE I As the treatment is completed, the patient may release the seal of the cape from the side walls served for subsequent operations by placing the cape in a proper stow-away shape and likewise for the side wall as in the roll 20. The reflector heater and vaporizer likewise are readily stored, as the chair, according to whether or not other use or other adaptation may be in order therefor.

It is to be noted that there is range of adaptability in the source of temperature control as well as the atmosphere or fumes therefrom. The character of the station, whether for child or adult, is one readily adaptable herein for comfort of the one undertaking the treatment. Likewise, the configuration as tubular or cylindrical or departing therefrom may conform to the desired clearance for the one at the station. As to the top closure or cape, such does not necessarily have to conform to exact horizontal with the upper edge 24, but as about the neck of the one taking the treatment, such position for the neck may either be above or below, if not in such plane. Accordingly, this structure is one of wide range of adaptability in use.

The cabinet, vaporizer, and cape are all of such light weight material that there is no strain in handling the parts. Thus extreme lightness is maintained which is so desirable in equipment of this type.

The inverted conical pan l8, disposed axially over the heating element, deflects the heat therefrom evenly in all directions so that one using the equipment is not subjected to possible burn.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

For a thermobath cabinet, a vertical section formed of a transversely rigid longitudinally flexible paper roll having opposite terminals, one being a first paper terminal tongue and the other a second paper terminal tongue, said second tongue having a U-shaped metal trim finish therefor, an inner ply portion of said paper assembled therewith and having a third paper terminal tongue to form with the metal trim finish on the second paper terminal tongue a pocket into which pocket the first tongue is insertable for ready frictional interlocking in set-up position, and a U-shaped cape having closure means at the back, which cape may be donned by the one using the cabinet independently of before or after setting up of the vertical section, said cape being adapted to overhang the top of the section.

CHESTER J. FENTON. 

